HOPPER FOR DUSTY MATERIALS

Abstract: The invention relates to a hopper for bulk material which emits a relatively large amount of dust. The hopper has an upper intake cone (10) and a lower discharge funnel (13). A grab bucket (14) is moved down into the hopper to the upper portion (13b) of the discharge funnel (13), whereafter a closure device (16, 34) for example in the form of a stocking (16) which is twisted and then closes as a camera shutter, is disposed between the intake cone (10) of the hopper and its discharge funnel (13). Via branch pipes (26a, 26b) and valves (27, 28) disposed in the branch pipes, a suction device (23) is connected to the interior of the hopper. On emptying of the grab bucket (14) the closure device has first closed the upper end of the hopper and the dust which is formed on opening of the grab bucket and when the bulk material falls down is taken care of by the suction device (23) which, via a dust filter (24), a discharge funnel (25) and a conduit (33), recycles bulk material to the standard transport path.

Description: HOPPER FOR DUSTY MATERIALS The present invention relates to a hopper for dusty materials according to the preamble of the independent Claim. Large quantities of dust are often emitted in the handling, such as loading, unloading and reloading of principally bulk materials. Ex- amples of cargo or materials which generate large quantities of dust are cement, cement slag, kaolin, aluminium oxide, certain fodder ma¬ terials, fertilizers, etc. In addition to being harmful from the point of view of the environment, such dust entails a certain material loss. Earlier attempts to solve problems relating to dust have primarily con¬ centrated on taking care of the dust which occurs in load handling by means of some form of suction apparatus in connection with a grab bucket or the like. However, one problem in this instance is that when the bucket is opened and the load released, there is often created such a powerful dust cloud that the suction apparatus disposed at the bucket itself is not capable of taking care of all of the dust which is formed. One object of the present invention is therefore substantially to pre¬ vent the spread of dust in the load handling of bulk cargo, and to make it possible to take care of the dust which is formed and recycle it. This object is attained by means of an apparatus according to the characterizing clause of the independent Claim. The hopper according to the present invention is primarily intended for use when bulk cargo is handled by a grab bucket. Grab buckets of this type are generally supported by one or more wire ropes, but in certain cases are also supported by other means such as an arm or a boom. Hop- pers of this type are disposed, for example, in ports, at intake areas for industrial plants, etc. One concept on which the present invention is based is that the bucket is to be emptied in an almost enclosed compartment, the powerful dust formation thereby being easier to control and take care of with the aid of a suction apparatus. The term suction apparatus is here taken to signify an apparatus comprising an extraction fan and a filter. The suction apparatus is, in this instance, dimensioned to be capable of reliably taking care of the dust in the enclosed compartment in that the suction apparatus is dimensioned with excess capacity in relation to the size of the enclosed compartment. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the ap¬ pended subclaims. The present invention affords a mechanically simple apparatus which gives dust-free reloading of bulk cargo at hoppers. The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a section through one embodiment of a hopper according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic Drawing from above illustrating the closure of the hopper with one type of closure device; and Fig. 3 is a schematic Drawing from above illustrating an alter¬ native device for closing the hopper. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the hopper comprises a cylindrical casing wall 11 supported on support legs 12. The hopper may have any optional cross-sectional configuration, but is most generally cylindrical. In the upper region, the casing wall 11 supports an intake portion in the form of an intake cone 10 with a through going aperture. The upper edge of the intake cone 10 is flush with the upper edge of the casing wall 11. The intake cone 10 tapers downwardly into the hop¬ per. In the lower region, the casing wall 11 supports a discharge por¬ tion in the form of a discharge funnel 13. The discharge funnel has an upper portion 13a with a vertical wall and a lower conical portion 13b. A grid 29 is provided between the upper portion 13a of the discharge funnel 13 and its lower, conical portion 13b, the grid 29 restricting the downward movement of a grab bucket 14 in the hopper. The grid 29 also filters off any possible large-piece elements included in the bulk material. The casing wall 11 surrounds the intake cone 10 and the upper portion 13a of the discharge funnel 13. The inner circumference of the upper portion 13a of the discharge fun¬ nel 13 is sufficiently large to allow the grab bucket 14 to open within this bounding definition. Normally, the bulk material is never permit- ted to accumulate above the level of the upper edge of the discharge funnel 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the bucket is carried by a wire rope 15. In other embodiments, the bucket may be carried by up to four or more wire ropes. In yet further embodiments, the grab bucket 14 is carried on an arm or boom. The lower portion 13b of the discharge funnel 13 connects with its lower edge to a conveyor apparatus 31 such as a screw conveyor or a conveyor belt. The bulk material discharged from the discharge funnel 13 of the hopper is, in the illustrated embodiment, removed by means of the conveyor apparatus 31 to a bulk transport vehicle 32. The bulk transport vehicle may be a truck, railway wagon, container or the like. In other embodiments, the bulk material is emptied direct into the vehicle, pneumatic tube conveyors, etc. or in other positions in the transport chain from the hopper to the end station. A tubular element 16 of cloth, also designated a stocking hereinbelow, is suspended within the hopper. The cloth may be canvas, fibre rein¬ forced plastic or other suitable flexible material which permits the handling described below. The upper edge 16a of the stocking 16 is movably supported in a circumferential rail 17 disposed on the inner face of the casing wall 11. The rail 17 is disposed flush with the lower portion of the intake cone 10. The lower edge 16b of the stocking 16 is connected to runners 19. The runners 19 run in vertical guides 18 disposed on the inner surface of the casing wall 11. To keep the stock- ing taut, weights 30 are disposed, suspended in the lower edge 16b of the stocking. The number of cooperating guides 18 and runners 19 as well as the number of weights 30 vary from embodiment to embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, four guides 18 and four weights 30 have been provided. While the weights 30 are, in the illustrated em- bodiment, shown as suspended in the lower edge 16b of the stocking 16 with the aid of a wire, a person skilled in the art will realize that the weights may be provided in many other different ways. Drive means 20 are provided for driving the upper edge 16a of the stocking 16 by the intermediary of wires 21 along the rail 17. The up¬ per edge 16a of the stocking 16 is, in this instance, secured in a ring which runs about the rail 17. The drive means 20 are disposed outside the hopper proper. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that there are numerous different ways of driving the upper edge 16a of the stocking. On rotation of the upper edge of the stocking 16 with the aid of the drive means 20 and the wires 21, the lower edge 16b of the stocking is simultaneously moved upwards along the casing wall 11, thanks to the guides 18 and the runners 19. Given that the lower edge of the stocking is not rotated, the stocking 16 will here be closed approximately in the same manner as a camera shutter around the wire rope 15 of the grab bucket when the upper and lower edges of the stock¬ ing 16 are rotated in relation to one another. The raised and closed stocking is intimated by the ghosted cross 22 in Fig. 1. The position where the stocking closes as a camera shutter may vary. Fig. 2 also schematically shows by means of a view from above how the stocking 16 closes as a camera shutter. The left-hand half of the Figure shows the position when the stocking 16 is suspended along the casing wall 11 and the right-hand half of the Figure shows the position when the upper and lower edges of the stocking 16 have been rotated in relation to one another. In other embodiments, the stocking is substituted by other flexible and/or mechanical devices for closing the upper portion of the hopper around the wire rope 15 or ropes of the grab bucket 14. One example of such a closure device is a damper which is moved in from the side. The damper runs in grooves disposed on the inside of the casing wall 11 and is operated by means of hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, wires connected to drive means, or in any other suitable way. One example of such a damper is shown in Fig. 3. The damper may consist of a plurality of lamellae 34, for example as shown in Fig. 3 by two lamellae 34 which have a central recess 35 so as to make room for the wire ropes 15 of the grab bucket 14. The central recess 35 is adapted to the pertinent circumstances such how many wire ropes 15 carry the grab bucket 14 and their circumference. In order to facilitate adaptation of the hopper to the relevant, and possibly modified circumstances, the recesses 35 have, in the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 3, been disposed on replaceable parts 36 at each respective damper lamella 34. Even though the damper is shown as consisting of two parts in the embodiment of Fig. 3, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that this may consist of more than two parts. In yet a further embodiment (not shown), the closure device consists of a mechanical shutter constructed from a number of lamellae. A suction device 23 is disposed beside the hopper. The suction device 23 sucks in dust from the hopper via a suction conduit 26, whereafter the dust intake is, via a dust filter 24, an emptying pocket 25 and a conduit 33, recycled back to the conveyor apparatus 31 which leads to a bulk transport vehicle 32. In other embodiments, the conduit 33 con¬ nects to the discharge funnel of the hopper or to other parts in the transport chain from the hopper proper to the bulk transport vehicle 32 or other end station. The suction conduit 26 is in communication with the interior of the hopper via an upper branch pipe 26a and a lower branch pipe 26b. A valve 27,28 is disposed in each branch pipe 26a and 26b, by means of which each respective branch pipe 26a,26b may be opened and closed. The upper branch pipe 26a discharges in the hopper in the region of the intake cone 10, while the lower branch pipe 26b discharges in the hopper at a height which lies above the upper portion of the discharge funnel 13. The exact position of the discharge of each respective branch pipe 26a,26b in the hopper is adapted to meet relevant conditions. The major requirement in respect of placement of the discharge openings is that the lower branch pipe 26b must discharge in a position which lies below the closure device when this is in a closed position. The position of the discharge of the branch pipe 26b must further be such that the lower edge of the stocking 16 has safely passed the discharge when the stocking 16 is in its raised position. The upper portion of the hopper may be provided with reinforcements to be able to absorb and withstand any possible impact from the grab bucket 14. The hopper is also provided with control and monitoring means (not shown) for sensing the position and controlling the different drive means for the closure device and valves. The control and monitor means are used to enable the personnel operating the bucket to know the position of the closure devices and to control the opening and closing of these devices. The control and monitor means are also employed for regulating opening and closure of the valves 27,28 of the branch pipes 26a and 26b. When the hopper according to the present invention is put into use, a filled grab bucket 14 is moved into the hopper. The bucket 14 descends into the upper portion 13a of the discharge funnel and, at most, down to the grid 29. A sensor, for example a photocell, senses when the bucket descends into the hopper and, after a certain time, the time normally required for the bucket to descend to the bottom, the closure device begins to close. For time control, use is normally made of a time relay. In another embodiment, it is sensed when the bucket has reached the emptying position in the discharge funnel 13. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edge of the stocking 16 is then twisted, normally through approx. 90°, while in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the damper lamellae 34 are brought together. At the same time the valve 27 closes in the upper branch pipe 26a and the valve 28 in the lower branch pipe 26b opens. The normal position for these valves when the hopper is not closed is that the valve 28 is closed and the valve 27 is open, in which event suction thus takes place in connection to the intake cone 10. To prevent the operator from raising or lowering the grab bucket 14 during the time while the closure device is in the process of opening or closing and during the time it is closed, an indication is made to the operator when there is a risk that the closure device will be damaged if the grab bucket is raised or lowered. In one embodiment, this indication is effected in that a red lamp (not shown) clearly visible on the outside of the hopper lights with an unbroken or blink¬ ing flash during the time when the grab bucket may not be raised or lowered. If desired, a green lamp may also be provided which lights or flashes when the closure device is completely open and thus permits raising or lowering of the grab bucket. In other embodiments, the lamp has been supplemented with or replaced by other indicator means, for example remote-controlled lamps on an operator panel. When the closure devices have been closed in accordance with the fore¬ going, there will thus be formed an almost closed compartment provided with a powerful extraction suction device. In this closed compartment, the grab bucket is opened and releases the bulk material down into the lower portion 13b of the discharge funnel 13, in which event there normally occurs a thick dust cloud. The dust which does not fall back straight down into the discharge funnel 13 is sucked out by the lower branch pipe 26b of the suction device 23. After passage through the dust filter 24, the bulk material is recycled, for example via an emptying pocket 25 and a conduit 33 back to the rest of the bulk material. From the discharge funnel 13, the bulk material is led via a conveyor 31 to a bulk loading vehicle 32. Depending upon the material conveyed and its dust-creation effect, the closure device is opened after a time which is sufficient to allow basically all raised dust to have been sucked out via the suction device 23. The time when the closure device is closed is adapted to the material conveyed and the volume of the grab bucket. At the same time as the closure device opens, the valve 28 in the lower branch pipe 26b is closed and the valve 27 in the upper branch pipe 26a is opened. When the operator receives an indication that the closure device has com¬ pletely opened, the grab bucket may once again be raised for collecting a new load, whereupon the above procedure is repeated. The above-detailed description has referred to but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention encompasses a large number of embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A hopper for dusty material, comprising a casing wall (11), an intake portion and a discharge portion (13), c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the casing wall (11) surrounds the intake portion (10) and at least the upper portion of the discharge portion (13); and that one or more means (16,34) for temporary closure of the hopper are provided between the intake portion (10) and the dis¬ charge portion (13) . 2. The hopper as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the closure means (16,34) are disposed to close the hopper between the upper edge of the discharge portion (13) and the lower edge of the intake portion (10); and that drive means (20,21) are provided for manoeuvring the closure means (16,34) between open and closed position. 3. The hopper as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the closure means (16,34) have a central aperture (35) which, on closure, is intended to surround suspension means (15) for a grab bucket (14) lowered into the hop¬ per without preventing opening and closing of the grab bucket (14). 4. The hopper as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the closure means are in the form of a stocking (16) which is movably journalled in its upper (16a) and lower (16b) edges. 5. The hopper as claimed in Claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stocking (16) closes the hopper in that its upper (16a) and lower (16b) edges are rotated in relation to one another. 6. The hopper as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the closure means consist of a mechanical damper device consisting of one, two or more damper lamellae (34). 7. The hopper as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the discharge portion (13) includes a lower, conical portion (13b) and an upper portion (13a) with vertical walls; that a grid (29) is provided between the lower, conical portion (13b) of the discharge portion (13) and its upper portion (13a); and that the intake portion (10) is conical. 8. The hopper as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a suction device (23) is con- nected to the interior of the hopper and displays at least one pipe (26b) which is in communication with that part of the hopper which lies beneath the closure means (16,34) when this is in the closed position. 9. The hopper as claimed in Claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one further pipe (26a) which is in communication with the suction device (23) discharges at a level in the proximity of the intake portion (10) of the hopper, all pipes (26a,26b) being provided with valves (27,28) for opening and closing the pipes, respectively. 10. The hopper as claimed in Claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that sensors and control means are provided for sensing the position of the grab bucket (14), for sensing the position of the closure means (16,34), for controlling the drive means (20,21) for the closure means (16,34) depending upon the position of the grab bucket (14), for controlling the valves of the suction device and for indicating to the operator whether the grab bucket (14) may be raised or lowered.

Inventors: ELESTAM LARS-GOERAN, ELESTAM, LARS-GOERAN
Applicants: ELESTAM LARS GOERAN, ELESTAM, LARS-GOERAN
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65B1
IPC codes: B65G69